“I just decided when I got the diagnosis that there must be some things that I don’t know about me so what can I do that will help me engage in a deeper self-study?” ~Aya-Nikole Cook

What happens when you are an artist following your passion, building a name for yourself in your field, and doing work you love... and then suddenly a major health crisis comes out of the blue?

That's what happened to Aya-Nikole Cook.

Aya-Nikole Cook is the founder and curator at Haji Healing Salon in Chicago. Yoga, acupuncture, Reiki, bodywork, herbal remedies... located in the south side of Chicago Chatham neighborhood, Haji is a sanctuary where "thriving is our resistance."

I KNEW I needed to talk with Aya when I heard the origin story of Haji while editing a business interview for a client's podcast. She had been working in the fashion industry until being diagnosed with fibroid tumors and undergoing surgery and subsequent recovery. That was the turning point when she decided to, not only engage in deeper self-study, but shift her creative talents toward facilitating healing space for her community.

Listen to the episode to get the full story, and whether you yourself have gone through or are going through recovery of your own, hear some words of wisdom for engaging in your own paradigm shift of taking care of YOU.

Connect with Aya-Nikole

Haji Healing Salon

Celebrate Haji Healing Salon's one-year anniversary month!

A Haji-Style REVIVAL

Spring yoga supper club event that offers folks a 3-Hour, multi-layered experience of restorative yoga with reiki and live vibraphone music + a vegan meal and dialogue about the intersections of culture, Faith and healing. Friday, may 17 630-930pm at Haji Healing Salon Tickets are $55. RSVP here: http://bit.ly/hajirevival

We offer low-cost alternative healing practices in community, every Tuesday 4-8pm and Sunday 12-6pm. Services include acupuncture ($25), Bodywork + reiki ($35), plus various other services each week. Reservations are made at hajihealingsalon.com. 

Instagram: @hajihealingsalon

Twitter: @hajihealing

Here are some ways I'd love to connect

1. Send me an email and let me know what changes you have made in your life, work, and creative process as the result of a health or healing crisis. So no like formal survey or anything. Just email me. You can write it or record a voice memo on your phone and attach it to the email.
2. Join my Facebook Community where we create social support for content creators with inspiring prompts, opportunities for you to share your work, talk about money and more.

My favorite hashtags #thecreativeimpostor #creativewomen #

Email or Voice (send me a question to answer on the show!) Facebook Group The Creative Impostor Facebook Page @andreaklunder.creative Instagram: @andreaklunder

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